Launching apparatus for aeroplanes



Feb. 10, 1931 c, CARVER I 1,792,000

LAUNCHING APPARATUS FOR AEROPLANES Filed Feb. M. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet lFeb. 10, 1931. D. c. CARVER LAUNCHING APPARATUS FOR AEROPLANES 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed Feb. 14. 1929 Patented Feb. 10, 1931 UNITED vstrainsPATENT OFFICE DONALD G. CARVER, OI CAMBRIDGE, 310

n LAUNGHIN G APPARATUS FOR AEBOPLANES Application filed February14,1929. Serial 1%. 339,855.

- the provision of a practically operative i launchingdevice which maybe employed in launching passenger aeroplanes, planes or large-transportplanes, which is of such character that this launching will not beinterfered with by inclement weather.

A further andmore specific object of the invention is to provide aninclined platform of considerable length which may be rotated to facethe wind with its higher end, this platform having means for causing anaeroplane to partake of. guided movement longitudinally thereof from thelower to the higher end whereby the aeroplane may be launched from theupper end of the platform at flying speed.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a platform havingsuch launchmg mechanism, the launching mechanism being of such characterthat it will not interfere with the use of the platform as a landingfield.

A still furtherobject of the invention is to provide a novel andimproved launching gear' for use in launching the aero lane.

These and other objects attain by the construction shown in theaccompanying drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is showna preferred embodiment of my invention and wherein-- Figure 1 a: lanview of aeroplane launching and landing apparatus constructed inaccordance with my invention Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional viewtherethrough; I

Figure 3 is a front elevation of the launch- 8 1 re 4 1s a sideelevation thereof; Figure 5 is a. detail view showing the mounting ofthe platform upon the supportin tracks. igure 6. is skid supportemployed. {A Referring now more particularly to the drawings, thenumeral 10 generally designajtes a platform having a flat upper surfaceand of considerable length and readth. A.

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the platform. v

a detail view showing the convenient size for the construction of such aplatform is 300 x 1000 feet. Opposite ends of this platform aresupported by a circular track 11, which is preferably arranged within ait 12 of such depth that one end of the lat orm is level with theground. The platorm from end to end is given about a ten per cent pitch,so that the upper end thereof,

with a platform of the length above set forth, would be approximatelyone hundred feet from the ground.

Beneath this upper end may be arranged 13, the floor of which isdisposed at ground level and accessible from the edge or side wall ofthe pit. Extending longitudinally of the platform from end to endthereof are tracks 14, which are preferably in the form of flat plates15 projectin outwardly from the inner edges ofparal el' grooves 16formed in and extending longitudinally of the structure. Between thesetracks, a small groove or cable trough 17 is formed in the surface ofthe platform. 1 A launching .car 18 is provided, this car compnsing aody having extending downwardly therefrom at each side thereof aplurality of supports 19, each bearing upper, andlower track engagingwheels 20 and 21 for engagement with the upper and lower surfaces of atrack element 15. The wheels 20 serve to support the carriage while thewheels 21 prevent separation thereof from' the surface of the platformand guide and support the carriagp inits movement over the upper edge oft e platform about which the carriage ma pass his carriage hasmeans forengaging the rear and outer portions .of an under carriage of-anaeroplane, so that this under carriag'emay be pushed forwardly and heldagainst transverse slipping movements and, i at the same time, the-planemay rise therefrom or disengage itself therefrom when its speed becomesgreater than the speed of the carriage. In the present instance, the caris disclosed as having mounted thereriage on at each tending shaft 22.These sha s have longi tudinally spaced openings formed therein.

hangergstructures, generally designated at to a position beneath sidethereof a longtudinally ex-.

permitting attachment thereto of the forward lower ends of outwardly andupwardly extending thrust arms 23, which are adjustable as to length, asindicated at 24, and may beconveniently constructed from angle iron.

These arms are connected intermediate their ends by a transverselyextending brace 25 which is adjustable as to length, so that theseparation of the upper ends of the arms may be controlled. Extendingtransversely of the carriage is a shaft 26, to opposite ends of whichbraces 27 are secured by knuckle joints 28. The braces 27 are adjustableas to length, as indicated at 29, and have means at their upper rearends whereby they may be connected to the thrust arms 23 to render thesame rigid. The under portion of the carriage has depending therefrom arigid arm 30, the lower end of which is secured to a cable 31 operatingin the groove 17 This cable, at a point spaced a suitable distancerearwardly of the oint of attachment of the arm 30, has secured theretoa flat plate 32 adapted for the reception of the tail skid '33 of theaeroplane. The thrust arms 23 engage behind the rear or under carriagestruts of the aero lane, so that when the cable is moved longitu inally,these arms will exercise a thrust upon the under carriage and accordsingly will cause the aeroplane to move longitu inally.

It will be obvious that by moving the cable 31 at an accelerated speed,the speed of the aeroplane may be increased to a launching speed, itbeing, of course, understood that the motors of the plane will be inoperation during the launching period. Operation of the cable 31 isobtained by means of a motor 34, preferably arranged beneath theplatform and reversibly operating a drum 35 about which the cable iswound. The cable from the drum passes over pulleys 36 arranged atopposite ends of the platform and directs the cable into the trough 17.

In addition to the launching apparatus above described, I provide acentral supporting turntable 37 for the platform and a motor forcontrolling the operation of this turntable. This motor may either bethe motor 34 above described or a separate motor 38, as disclosed. Itwill be obvious that with the latform 1O faced into the wind, the platorm may be convenientl employed either in launching or as a landingfield for aeroplanes. Since the construction of the tracks does notprovide any grooves which will interfere with the landing of the plane,a smoothplatform is provided for such land. ings. This platform may bevery read ly kept clear of snow and ice by simply providing some meansfor heating the surface thereof. It will be obvious that due to theconstruction of the launching apparatus and the length of the platformprovided for such launching, the plane may be started from rest andgradually brought to launching speed without any jerk or jar. I It willalso be noted that during the launching, the plane 0 erates upon its ownrunning gear, so that w en it takes off either from the speed impartedthereto by the launching apparatus or from speed gathered from itspropulsion mechanism, there will be no jerk or jar, such as is presentin the catapult arrangements now employed for launching aeroplanes. Byuse of an apparatus of this character, all danger now attendinglaunching and landing of aeroplanes during wet or windy weather can beeliminated. I

Since the construction hereinbefore set forth is capable of a certainrange of change and modification without materially departing from thespirit of the invention, I do not limit myself to such specificstructure except as hereinafter claimed.

1. In launching and landing apparatus for aeroplanes, a platform ofsufficient size to permit landing of an aeroplane thereon, said platforminclining from end to end, means or rotatin the platform to direct thehigher end thereof into the wind, a carriage shiftable from end to endof the platform and having means to .releasably engage the under car- 2.In launching and landing apparatus for aeroplanes, a platform ofsufficient size to permit landing of, an aeroplane thereon, said latforminclining from end to end, means a or rotating the platform to directthe higher.

end thereof into the wind, a carriage shiftable from end to end of theplatform and having means to releasably enga e the under carriage of anaeroplane, guiding tracks for said carriage extending longitudinally ofthe platform, wheels upon the carriage having coaction with the trackspreventing separation of the carriage from the tracks, there being agroove in the platform adjacent said tracks and paralleling the same,the carriage having an arm extending into said groove, and an endlesscable having one run thereof dis- ,posed within the groove and to whichthe arm is secured.

3. In launching and landing apparatus for aeroplanes, a platform ofsufficient size to permit landing of an aeroplane thereon, said latforminclining from end to end, means or rotating the platform to direct thehigher end thereof into the wind, a carriage shiftable from end to endof the platform and having means to releasably engage the under carriageof an aeroplane, guiding tracks for said form, wheels upon the carriagehavingcoaction with the tracks preventing separation of the carriagefrom the tracks, there being a groove in the platform adjacent saidtracks and paralleling the same, the carriage having an arm extendinginto said groove, an endless cable having one run thereof disposedwithin the groove and to which the arm is secured, and a platformsecured to said cable rearwardly of said carriage and adapted to receivethe tail skid of an aeroplane engaged with the carriage.

4. In launching and landing apparatus for aeroplanes, a platform ofsuflicient size to permit landing of an aeroplane thereon, said platforminclining from end to end, means for rotating the platform to direct thehigher end thereof into the wind, a carriage shiftable from end to endof the platform and having means to releasably engage the under carriageof an aeroplane, guiding tracks for said carriage extendinglongitudinally of the platform, and wheels upon the carriage havingcoaction with the tracks preventing separation of the carriage from thetracks, the engaging means of the carriage comprising outwardly andrearwardly inclining arms adapted to engage the outer rear faces of rearstruts of the under carriage of the aeroplane.

5. In launching and landing apparatus for aeroplanes, a platform ofsuflicient size to permit landing of an aeroplane thereon, said platforminclining from end to end, means for rotating the platform to direct thehigher end thereof into the wind, a carriage shiftable from end to endof the platform and having means to releasably engage the under carriageof an aeroplane, a plurality of vertically spaced rollers for saidcarriage, a drum beneath the platform, means for driving the drum, and acable wound upon the drum and passed about opposite ends of the platformand over the upper surface of the platform to which said carnage issecured.

6. In launching and landing apparatus for aeroplanes, a platform ofsuflicient size to permit landing of an aeroplane thereon, said platforminclining from end to end, means for rotating the platform to direct thehigher end thereof into the wind, a carriage shiftable from end to endof the platform and having means to releasably engage the under carriageof an aeroplane, a plurality of vertically spaced rollers for saidcarriage, a drum beneath the platform, means for driving the drum, acable wound upon the drum and passed about opposite ends of the platformand over the upper surface of the platform to which said carriage issecured, and tracks for guiding the carriage, preventing separation ofthe carriage from the platform.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

DONALD C. CARVER.

